The quickest way to pay less for clothing is to buy it at the right time. Retailers discount each season's stock as that season ends to clear space for new inventory so a little patience turns full price into clearance price. Here's the year at a glance.
Month-by-month calendar
|
When |
What's cheapest |
|
January |
Winter coats, knitwear and boots (end-of-season); post-holiday clearance |
|
February |
Continued winter clearance; formalwear ahead of spring |
|
March–April |
Winter final markdowns; early spring transitional pieces |
|
May–June |
Spring apparel discounted as summer stock arrives |
|
July–August |
Summer clothing on sale; back-to-school basics (jeans, tees, sneakers) |
|
September |
Late-summer clearance; early fall arrivals at full price |
|
October–November |
Autumn markdowns; Black Friday & Cyber Monday — deepest cuts of the year |
|
December |
Holiday promotions; pre-year-end clearance on fall/winter |
Rules of thumb
- Buy any season's clothing as that season ends for the biggest markdown.
- Late July through August is prime time for back-to-school staples.
- The single best sale window all year is Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Plan the biggest weekend early with our Black Friday clothing deals playbook.
Combine timing with codes
Seasonal markdowns get even better when you add a coupon on top. Learn how to stack coupons with sales, read the complete guide to saving on clothes, or browse current clothing & fashion coupons now.
